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Week II Hunter News from the Atlanta Spring Classic

Tamara Provost and Salt [Photos: Alison Hartwell Photography]

Week II at the Atlanta Spring Classics was all about the Hunters! The Sidelines Green Hunter Divisions, all qualifiers for the $30,000 Green Hunter Classic, in memory of Ellen Veitch and presented by Ariat, JPC Equestrian, the Farmhouse and Friends, the $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Kruse Cushion Ride, and the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby all took place at the home of the 1996 Olympic Games.

Salt, owned by Bridget Hallman and Merrylegs South and ridden by Tamara Provost of Westfield, Indiana, galloped away with the blue ribbon in the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.  This was Provost’s first time showing at the Georgia International Horse Park. She had such a good experience she said she will be returning for the Atlanta Fall Classics in November.

Provost and Salt won the Classic round with their score of 168 and, combined with their Handy score of 175 and overall 343, won the class.

Fairy Tale Farm’s Novel T, ridden by Megan Rosenthal of Charlotte, North Carolina, followed in second with their Classic score of 157 and leading Handy score of 180 for a combined 337 total.

Hilary Baylor’s Naddel, ridden by Harrison Ford of Villa Rica, Georgia, earned a Classic score of 157 and Handy score of 177 for an overall 334 and a third place ribbon.

Ezra, owned and ridden by Julie Curtin of Villa Rica, Georgia, rode away with the fourth place ribbon after earning a Classic score of 137 and Handy Round score of 175 for a combined 312.  Casallo, owned and ridden by Erin McGuire of Cornelius, North Carolina, placed fifth with their overall score of 310, and Ava, owned and ridden by Kathryn Jarriel of Collins, Georgia, earned sixth place with their overall score of 309. Seventh place went to Absalon, owned by Halle Brandt and ridden by Raffi Kechejian of Fayetteville, California, for their overall score of 305.  Eighth was awarded to Allure, owned and ridden by Gianna Cobb of Marietta, Georgia, for their overall score of 292, and Don Stewart’s Cassius, ridden by Caitlyn Shields of Wellington, Florida, took ninth place honors with their overall score of 290. Liddy Strickland’s Valentine, ridden by Sarah Milliren of Athens, Georgia, placed tenth with their overall score of 270, and Summer Stone Farm Horses, LLC’s Blue Grass, ridden by Amanda Wise of Wagener, South Carolina, placed eleventh with their overall score of 263. Wise also took the twelfth place ribbon in the irons of her own Remedy.

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Carolyn Bell and Capriccio

The $2,500 USHJA National Hunter Derby, presented by Kruse Cushion Ride, awarded the blue ribbon to Capriccio, owned by Samantha Kench and ridden by Carolyn Bell for their overall score of 176. Bell, owner of Fortitude Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia, commented, “I was thrilled to get to do the same course as the International Derby.  It was just a fantastic experience. The Handy course was designed to be very Handy. It was really technical and challenging and made us really ride up to that challenge.

“When Capriccio and I left the ring, I thought he did phenomenally well and was really pleased with his performance and didn’t even pay attention to the scores.  I even went on to the next ring and kept on doing my thing until a trainer walked up and congratulated me.  I said ‘for what?’  She told me that we won the Derby! To get a score of 90 for our Handy round was just awesome,” she said.

Second place went to Why, owned by Charlotte Warren and ridden by Rebekah Warren of Atlanta, Georgia, for their overall score of 171. Saint Oliver, owned and ridden by Karen Bailey of Athens, Georgia, earned a third place ribbon for their overall score of 169. Fourth place went to Honey Badger, owned and ridden by Julie Curtin, for their overall score of 166. Five Henry Stables’ Ledger, ridden by Avery Lynch of Charlotte, North Carolina, earned a fifth place ribbon for their overall score of 162, and Callie Rheinheimer’s Steel Magnolia, ridden by Heather Zuber of Zionsville, Indiana, earned sixth place with their score of 150. Seventh place was awarded to Guest of Honor, owned and ridden by Nolan Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Americana, owned by Wind Haven Farm and ridden by Heather Zuber, earned eighth place.

“We had a great time at the Atlanta Spring Classics,” said Bell.  “I have to say, Allen [Rheinheimer] always does such a good job managing the Classic Company shows and their footing.  I’ve been very pleased with the footing since the Classic crew has been improving it. They really work hard at it and their efforts definitely make a positive difference,” she said.  “I was also happy to see that Voltaire is a sponsor of the shows.  It is great to have them onsite with their great customer service.

“I had thirteen horses here one week and fourteen the other week.  Capriccio jogged first in two of his Green Conformation Hunters and has had a good spring.  He really is an amazing horse,” she said.  “He’s a 7 year old Holsteiner that I imported from Germany three years ago and he just started the Derbies this year.  I also do the 3’6″ Green Conformation Hunter with him and he does the 3′ Adults with Sammy (his owner) during the week.  He has been a great horse for her to ride.  He is one of the sweetest, calmest and bravest horses I have ever had the pleasure of training.  Sadly, he is going to be for sale come May since Sammy is heading off to college in the Fall.  But he is going to make someone an excellent Junior Hunter,” she added.

Green Hunters Go for the Green

The Sidelines 3′ and 3’3″ Green Hunter Divisions saw eleven horse and rider teams compete in the 3′ Division, earning valuable points on their road to the $30,000 Green Hunter Classic, in memory of Ellen Veitch, presented by Ariat, JPC Equestrian, The Farmhouse and Friends, scheduled for Week I of the Atlanta Fall Classic. The top twenty finalists will be invited to compete for no entry fee. Five additional riders will be selected by lottery. All others showing in the Sidelines Green Hunters 3′ and 3’3″ Divisions Week I at the Atlanta Fall Classic may enter for a fee of $500.

Gospel, owned by Patchwork Farm, LLC and ridden by Lauren Kissel, won the 3′ Sidelines Green Hunter Division Championship, and Prime Time, owned by Sloan Linginfelter and ridden by Carolyn Bell, were Reserve.

Honey Badger, owned and ridden by Julie Curtin, took the Championship honors in the 3’3″ Sidelines Green Hunter, and Argento, owned by Isabelle Lafferty and ridden by Carolyn Bell, were awarded Reserve.

For complete results, please visit horseshowsonline.com.

ClassicCompany.com
GulfCoastClassicCompany.com
Phone/Fax: (843) 768-5503
Post Office Box 1311, Johns Island, SC 29457

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